A mother-of-two who says she's in the best shape of her life thanks to a gruelling diet and fitness regime has revealed she still enters up to three bodybuilding competitions a year - and credits her lifestyle with her age-defying looks.?

Contract carrier Kimberly Blankenship, from Double Springs in Alabama,?first began weight training when she was at college and has continued throughout her adult life, attending NPC bodybuilding competitions as a spectator with her husband.

After going to a show in 2009, Kimberly decided she wanted to compete, entering her first competition at the age of 45.?

Kimberly, now 52, follows a clean diet and gives herself 16-weeks to prepare for a competition instead of 12, to avoid injury. When she isn't competing, Kimberly weighs 10st and gets down to a super lean 9st 2lbs for competitions.?

Kimberly Blankenship, from Double Springs, Alabama, says she's in the best shape of her life after taking up weightlifting. So can you guess how old she is?

The mother and gym fanatic credits her healthy lifestyle and six-meal-a-day diet for her fit body and youthful looks

'I started weight training in college and continued after I got married in 1990. My husband was into bodybuilding and took me to several NPC bodybuilding competitions. In 2009, we attended the Alabama state NPC championships - I decided then I wanted to compete,' she said.

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'I hired a trainer to help me prep for my first figure competition. My training routine didn't really change much, but I quickly learned that a 'clean' diet is the key to achieving the physique I was seeking.

'I followed a strict high-protein, low-carb diet for twelve weeks and entered my first competition at age 45 and I was hooked.

Kimberly weighs 10st and gets down to a super lean 9st 2lbs for competitions through a rigorous regime

Kimberly, now 52, follows a clean diet and gives herself 16-weeks to prepare for a competition instead of 12, to avoid injury

The mother believes that it's essential to take care of the bodies we are born with because you'll never get to trade it in

'I continued to enter two to three competitions per year and finally won my IFBB pro card at age fifty.

'I am definitely in the best shape of my life now and I truly believe a healthy lifestyle of clean eating and exercise is the key to looking and feeling younger. Most people are surprised by my age, but I tell them that age is just a number.

'The body we are born with is the only one we will ever have, we don't have the option to trade it in for another new and improved model when we wear this one out.'

Kimberly stresses that it does get harder with age and that every year that passes, prep for competition gets harder. 'Metabolism slows with age and my body is slower to heal after injury,' she said

Kimberly follows a clean diet and now gives herself 16-weeks to prepare for her competitions

Speaking about how she preps for competitions, she said:?'I now give myself sixteen weeks to prep rather than twelve weeks so that I don't have to push myself too hard and risk injury or over stressing my body'

Kimberly eats five to six meals a day but doesn't deny herself the occasional dessert when she's not preparing for a competition. She gave her advice to others wanting to take up the sport.

'I always tell people it's never too late to start a diet and training program. My advice to them is to set realistic goals - don't try to compete with what you see on social media,' she said.

'As long as you are improving, you are winning.

'I do stress that it does get harder with age though. With every year that passes, prep for competition gets harder. Metabolism slows with age and my body is slower to heal after injury.

'I now give myself sixteen weeks to prep rather than twelve weeks so that I don't have to push myself too hard and risk injury or over stressing my body.

'During the off-season, I continue to eat healthy but I'm guilty of occasionally indulging in decadent desserts - you just have to know your limits.'

For more information see www.instagram.com/fit2btide-?

During the off-season, she says she continues to eat healthy but is guilty of occasionally indulging in decadent desserts?

Kimberly eats five to six meals a day but doesn't deny herself the occasional sweet treat

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